Constellations

If you have an older teen, especially one who wants queer or substance abuse representation in books, and enjoys graphic novels, look at Kate Glasheen’s debut graphic novel. In this book, we transport to 1980s New York (Troy Area, not the city haha) where Claire, who struggles with their gender identity but never officially says they are nonbinary, chooses to drink a lot of beer instead of talking about it, and ends up in a residential rehab area, where they meet a cast of characters with their own issues, learn about found family, and learn some coping mechanisms.

This is an odd book, I’m not going to lie. When one of my groups discussed it, we kept coming back to, “is this actually for teens?” because the protagonist being a teen doesn’t make something YA. It’s not that the themes are “too adult” because nothing is too explicit sexually, and we don’t see anyone DOING hard drugs, but something about the tone and the art style makes it feel as if it was “dumbed” down for teens. At the same time, I’m glad this book is YA so that I can more easily give it to teens who might need the message of this book and a representation of these sorts of harder topics. It’s like Ellen Hopkins if Ellen Hopkins was watered down, and drawn. It is kind of, to me, ridiculous that Claire’s “big addiction” is BEER while there are other kinds in this program genuinely addicted to heroin but…I digress.

Maybe don’t run to get this book, but keep it on your radar in case you have teens or young adults it might be a good fit for!